1979-P Narrow and Wide Border:
This highly collectible variety is noted by the distance between
the rim and peripheral design elements, most prominently between
the date and rim. Because of this, this variety is sometimes
refered to as "Far Date" and "Near Date".
This is actually inaccurate as the date was not moved, but
instead the border was widened. They are also often refered to as
"Narrow Rim" and "Wide Rim". The Mint began
striking the 1979-P SBA Dollars with the "narrow
border". Late in 1979 the border was widened to give the
coin a more aesthetic appearance. The "narrow border"
variety is found on all 1979 dollars from all of the mints. The
1979 "wide border" variety can only be found on the
"P" mint issues. The "wide border" variety
was used for the remainder of the series.

The mint did not keep accurate
records on how many of each variety were struck. According to
information provided by George E. Hunter, the Assistant Director
of Technology for the U.S. Mint at the time, there were 643
"wide border" dies used at the Philadelphia Mint in
1979. It is estimated that there are approximately 250,000
strikes per die. Using this estimate the Mint would have produced
approximately 160,750,000 1979-P "Wide Border" Susan B.
Anthony Dollars, or nearly 45% of all 1979-P Anthony Dollars
minted. However, since the Mint has released their entire
production of Anthony Dollars, it does not appear that the
"Wide Border" variety makes up nearly half of the
1979-P production. While not rare, or even scarce, the "Wide
Border" variety is somewhat elusive, especially in high
grades (Mint State 66 and above). We may never know exactly how
many were struck.

FAQ:
What is the significance of the rim having 11 sides?Answer: There is no significance.

1981-S
"Type-1" This is the same Mint mark as
introduced in the later part of 1979 for proof coinage
production (and referred to as Ty-2 for that year). (It
is the first one used in 1981 and is thus designated Ty-1
for that year.) It exhibits smaller rounded serifs and
more oval shaped center loops than found on the Ty-2. It
may come with or without clear fields or
"attachments" within the center loops depending
on the amount of punching pressure utilized to sink the
image into the die and/or the amount of polishing the die
receives. This is the more common variety for the year.

PROOF 1981-S
"TYPE 2" MINT MARK

1981-S "Type-2" This
Mint mark was introduced in the later part of 1981 for
proof coinage production (and referred to as Ty-2 for
this year). It exhibits large bulbous serifs and rounder
center loops than found on the Ty-1. In spite of the fact
that this variety is frequently and inaccurately referred
to as "Clear S", it may come with or without
clear fields or "attachments" within the center
loops depending on the amount of punching pressure
utilized to sink the image into the die and/or the amo
unt of polishing the die receives. It does, however, have
a greater tendency to be found with "clearer
fields" within the loops than the Ty-1 but this is
not a determining factor of type.